Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with caribbeanhttp://ask.metafilter.com/tags/caribbean
Questions tagged with 'caribbean' at Ask MetaFilter.Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:01:33 -0800Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:01:33 -0800en-ushttp://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss60Low-Key Beach in Central America or the Caribbeanhttp://ask.metafilter.com/302202/Low%2DKey%2DBeach%2Din%2DCentral%2DAmerica%2Dor%2Dthe%2DCaribbean
I'm looking for a laid-back, beachy, inexpensive place to go in January or February this year, ideally somewhere that I can reach by direct flight from Miami or Ft Lauderdale. And I'm looking for a specific kind of place to stay there. I'll be in South Florida this winter at some point and I'd like to fly from there to somewhere in the Caribbean or Central America where I can hang out on a relatively quiet beach for 4-6 days. <br>
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What I'm looking for is pretty specific, but hopefully the fact that I'm very open geographically will make it easier to find!<br>
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- Ideally under $50/night for a room/bungalow/hut to myself, though I can stretch this if need be. I definitely understand how much this limits me! <br>
- Right on the beach (or like, up the hill from a beach). <br>
- I'll be by myself, so ideally a place that's friendly to solo travelers without being a crazy party scene. I'm thinking of something like a hostel or a less-stuffy bed and breakfast, where there's a common area for guests to hang out but where you have your own space. <br>
- I'd love a less-developed beach/town. <br>
- Other things to do besides hang out on the beach would be nice, maybe a day trip or two. <br>
- A beach that's swimmable (ie, not strictly a surf beach).<br>
- Reached with relative ease from Miami or Ft Lauderdale. I don't mind some ground travel (I assume some would be involved to get to a less-developed beach) but I'd love it if the travel could be like a half-day.<br>
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Basically, I'm looking for what you'd be able to find in one of the less-developed beaches of Thailand, if you're familiar, but in this hemisphere.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.302202Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:01:33 -0800lunasolRomantic luxury vacation for twohttp://ask.metafilter.com/301113/Romantic%2Dluxury%2Dvacation%2Dfor%2Dtwo
Recommend somewhere warm and beautiful in the Caribbean, adults only, 4-5 star, all inclusive. Prefer something off the beaten path/lesser known. Bonus points for Hawaii or St. Lucia. No Bermuda or Mexico please. Will be going in December or January.<br>
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We want: excellent food, luxury accommodations, beautiful scenery, a good mix of quiet and activities. This is a romantic getaway and we want to feel relaxed and spoiled.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.301113Sun, 02 Oct 2016 19:19:08 -0800yawperDo you know Canadian Immigration Law?http://ask.metafilter.com/300840/Do%2Dyou%2Dknow%2DCanadian%2DImmigration%2DLaw
How to get Canadian citizenship with no documents? I know a person living in Canada who is of Caribbean origin.
They have no citizenship, which means no ID and no Social Insurance Number. They would like to get Canadian citizenship but are terrified of being deported. What should they do? This is a wonderful young person who deserves a chance but is overwhelmed by the system. <br>
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I don't know this person's entire history, but here is what I know:<br>
<br>
Currently in their mid 20s.<br>
Born in Tobago around 1990. They have a birth certificate and an expired Trinidad/Tobago passport.<br>
Moved to Grenadines as a child - has an expired St.Vincent/Grenadines passport.<br>
Came to Canada with their mother, somewhere around 2003 (approx age 13)<br>
Person has lived in Canada for 10+ years. <br>
They have a perfectly clean criminal record.<br>
They identify as Canadian, and would like to stay in Canada permanently. <br>
As far as they know, they have no Canadian identification documents.<br>
<br>
The person has no family on the paternal side. Maternal family situation in Canada was difficult. <br>
In their teens, the person severed relationships with all family members. <br>
Recently they reconnected with some relatives (a sibling and maternal grandparent-- but not their mother). All the family relationships are fragile and somewhat dysfunctional. <br>
The newly reconnected relatives do have ties to the mother, but she might decide to withhold her own documents from the person (which might make it harder to prove when they came to Canada, parents' citizenship, etc).<br>
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Person is currently essentially homeless- was living with a common-law domestic partner but after an unhealthy breakup, they are now couch-surfing. <br>
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Now they'd like to get their Canadian citizenship so they can get a SIN number and some Canadian ID, and move forward in life. They are terrified of being deported. <br>
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QUESTIONS:<br>
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1. If they start this process, is there a chance they could be deported? Best ways to avoid that?<br>
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2. The first step seems to be to renew their long-expired Grenadine passport, then use that to get a Canadian ID card... is that accurate? Is it better to ditch the Caribbean ID and just try to become a Canadian citizen? It's confusing!<br>
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3. What should they do, where should they go to do it? <br>
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Note: I know immigration clinics use catchment areas, so in case anyone is knowledgeable about these- he lives in Toronto and could access mailing addresses in Scarborough, Downtown Centre, Junction, High Park, or Mimico.<br>
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Thanks!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.300840Fri, 23 Sep 2016 18:34:58 -0800spockpuppyPuerto Rico. Y'know, for kids.http://ask.metafilter.com/297262/Puerto%2DRico%2DYknow%2Dfor%2Dkids
Traveling to Puerto Rico next week. Seeking suggestions for family fun. Myself, my wife, and our 7yo daughter will be spending 5 days in Puerto Rico next week. We're renting a car, staying in an Air BnB near El Yunque. Closest town is Luquillo. I would love some suggestions of kid-friendly activities and locations, as well as any specific restaurant or shopping locations. We already have a bio bay tour booked, but our itinerary is otherwise wide open. I'd like to do some snorkeling, but not sure how kid-friendly it will be. Any experiences in Culebra or Vieques would also be much appreciated.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.297262Tue, 21 Jun 2016 08:04:45 -0800gnutronHow much does a Caribbean cruise realistically cost?http://ask.metafilter.com/295352/How%2Dmuch%2Ddoes%2Da%2DCaribbean%2Dcruise%2Drealistically%2Dcost
I am interested in taking a Caribbean cruise but not spending every penny that I have. As such, I am wondering how much it realistically costs to do a cruise, on a line like Carnival or Royal Caribbean, if I do it "middle of the road" in terms of extras. In other words, I would do a lot of the free stuff, but pay for some extras--occasional non-included meals, drinks, and fun. Do you have any thoughts about what it realistically would cost to do, for example a 5-day cruise? How to maximize fun on a budget? Other tips?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.295352Wed, 04 May 2016 16:54:38 -0800mortaddamsZika outbreak in Caribbean. 4 weeks pregnant. To go or not to go?http://ask.metafilter.com/290986/Zika%2Doutbreak%2Din%2DCaribbean%2D4%2Dweeks%2Dpregnant%2DTo%2Dgo%2Dor%2Dnot%2Dto%2Dgo
We just found out my wife is pregnant (yay!). Our honeymoon is scheduled for 1/31 (cruise out of NYC - 2 weeks). The only two locations on the CDC list on our itinerary are San Juan and Martinique. We could stay on the ship at those ports. You are not a doctor, or if you are, you're not our doctor. We are consulting our own doctor. <br>
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Would YOU go?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.290986Sun, 17 Jan 2016 13:35:37 -0800eggmanHelp me San Juan it up on a Short Trip to Puerto Ricohttp://ask.metafilter.com/290675/Help%2Dme%2DSan%2DJuan%2Dit%2Dup%2Don%2Da%2DShort%2DTrip%2Dto%2DPuerto%2DRico
Going to San Juan as a quick 3-day getaway from the cold, Northeastern winter. We will be staying right on the beach in the Condado neighborhood in San Juan.
Looking for some advice and tips on beaches accessible within San Juan, <a href="http://livinginpuertorico.com/san-sebastian-street-festival/">San Sebastian Festival</a>, and seeing the rain forest. There's been a <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/234976/Puerto-Rico-Travel-Advice">few</a> <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/284609/Food-in-San-Juan-Puerto-Rico">helpful</a> <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/271230/Planning-a-trip-to-Puerto-Rico">questions</a> about Puerto Rico and San Juan on the green before, but none are particularly focused on beaches and sites just within San Juan proper.<br>
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We will be staying in the <a href="http://gopuertorico.about.com/od/sanjuan/p/Condado_Guide.htm">Condado neighborhood</a>. We're renting an AirBnB right by the beach there, but I'd love to check out some more of the public beaches in San Juan. My girlfriend isn't big on swimming in the ocean, so we're mostly looking forward to just renting some chairs and an umbrella and hanging out on a <strong>quiet</strong> beach. <br>
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The San Sebastian Festival will be on going on while we're there, and it looks pretty cool. We're not huge partiers, so any suggestions to get the most out of the festivities while avoiding some the over-the-top drunken masses. Also, any tips on getting to Old San Juan from Condado using public transit might be handy.<br>
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We also want to try taking one of the day trip tours to the rainforest where a tour operator in San Juan drives people out to <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/elyunque">El Yunque</a> and back. We are pretty experienced hikers, so I'd rather try to get to some of the quieter, less tourist-y parts of the park. <br>
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For going out, I'm looking for recommendations for fun bars that are on the quiet side with great beer selections.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.290675Sun, 10 Jan 2016 13:59:19 -0800forkisbetterWhere should I go on vacation with my Mom?http://ask.metafilter.com/290381/Where%2Dshould%2DI%2Dgo%2Don%2Dvacation%2Dwith%2Dmy%2DMom
My Mom (a lady in her 50s) and I (a lady in her 30s) have a week to travel together in April. It needs to be warm, relaxing, and accessible from the U.S. east coast (MA for her, NC for me). In the past we've done Big Deal trips (India, France) but we don't have enough time for that kind of thing. We mostly want to relax, walk around and eat good food, but both like outdoorsey stuff and cultural stuff. We don't like big crowds or resorts. Where should we go?! So far we're thinking Tuscon or DC, but neither of those are making us very enthusiastic. I was thinking the Dominican Republic but I don't really know where to go there. Please help!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2016:site.290381Sun, 03 Jan 2016 17:03:29 -0800genmonsterHalf-remembered Caribbean pop hithttp://ask.metafilter.com/286771/Half%2Dremembered%2DCaribbean%2Dpop%2Dhit
There has been a song on the tip of my mental tongue, as it were, for about three weeks now and I am hoping some genius mefite can recognize it from my fragmentary description. It is Caribbean in flavour and I am 90% sure it was recorded in the sixties. Unfortunately about all I have is part of the chorus. It is a male singer, and the tiny bit that I can recollect is seemingly at the end of the chorus, with two short rising "Whoh"s as quarter notes -- that is, "Whoh" (two-three-four), "Whoh" (two-three-four) "$Final_Line" (which may be the song title). That final line feels brief -- maybe three to five words. <br>
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The little bit of it I can retrieve sounds vaguely Caribbean, but I think it is a Caribbean-inflected pop tune that got airplay in the US and Canada. (It is far enough back in my memory that I must have heard it long before I had heard much more authentic stuff like Prince Buster or Junior Byles.) This same sense that it is at the far end of a lengthy span of memory suggests it was recorded by the early seventies at the latest. When I try to hear the rest of it in my head, my internal soundtrack shifts it to either Desmond Dekker's <em>Israelites</em> or Chubby Checker's <em>Limbo Rock</em>, so that might help people get a sense of the feel.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.286771Tue, 06 Oct 2015 18:50:23 -0800ricochet biscuitPowdery sand, very warm water, something interesting to do, and a baby.http://ask.metafilter.com/285489/Powdery%2Dsand%2Dvery%2Dwarm%2Dwater%2Dsomething%2Dinteresting%2Dto%2Ddo%2Dand%2Da%2Dbaby
We're looking for a week-long-ish beach-ish vacation, probably in March 2016 (in an off-season between school vacations), with requirements being very very fine powdery sand, very very warm water, <i>and</i> something interesting to do besides sit on a beach and swim.
There are two complications. Complication number one is a (assuming March) 22 month old.<br>
<br>
Complication two is that we have two seemingly diametrically opposed sets of requirements; we want something nature-crunchy-granola-hippie-eco-tourism style - i.e., <b>not</b> a megaresort, casino, "spring break" environment, anything like that. Neither of us drink at all. We have no interest in pounding Corona Lite while turning orange - we just want to splash around in very blue warm ocean with our toddler. <br>
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On the other hand, I'm a wimp when it comes to accommodations and basically melt down completely in less than first-world-standard housing. I cannot survive without high quality functioning air conditioning and a good shower and windows that keep the bugs on the outside.<br>
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Ideas?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.285489Tue, 08 Sep 2015 19:08:48 -0800dmdLast minute trip to Mexico or Caribbean on a budgethttp://ask.metafilter.com/277039/Last%2Dminute%2Dtrip%2Dto%2DMexico%2Dor%2DCaribbean%2Don%2Da%2Dbudget
I have a week off next week, and am looking to book a last-minute trip to somewhere warm for a few days, flying from the northeast US. I'm thinking the Caribbean or Mexico, but open to other ideas. My budget is up to $700US for flights and 4-5 nights accommodation, and I don't want a spring break type trip. Am I asking the impossible? I would like a beach (or some other natural scenery), a town with some semblance of local character (though I recognize anywhere easily accessible will have a big tourist presence) to wander around, and decent local food. I'll be traveling alone, and plan to spend my time reading and people watching, with maybe a day trip or two if there's interesting stuff nearby.<br>
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I am uninterested in all-inclusive resorts unless they are a spectacularly good deal, and are close to a town where I can get non-resort food some days. I definitely am not looking for a party scene.<br>
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I can fly from NYC or Philly. My best option at the moment is San Jose del Cabo - I've found $450 flights and it looks like there's cheap guest houses there, but I'm worried it will be overrun with spring break trips. There are even cheaper flights to Bermuda, but accommodation is over $100 a night minimum. I'd love to go to Oaxaca and check out the food, but the flights are too pricey. I thought about Puerto Rico, but it seems difficult to get anywhere without a car. Other ideas?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.277039Mon, 09 Mar 2015 17:37:36 -0800une_heure_pleineHelp me Puerto Rico!http://ask.metafilter.com/276011/Help%2Dme%2DPuerto%2DRico
We're going to Puerto Rico in ~a month, for a week. We have our plane flight &amp; our AirBNB, now it's time to figure out the rest! Advice on things to do, places to visit, how to get around, and anything else appreciated!! This is on a student budget, btw.
Bonus question: What's the best way to learn traveller's Spanish in the next few weeks? I am an advanced French speaker, if that makes a difference... I am SO EXCITED to go to the Caribbean for the first time!<br>
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We're staying in San Juan in the "Parque" district, 5 minutes from the beach. Things we would like to do: hiking in the rainforest and splash around in the waterfall, day-trip to the hot springs in the south, day-trip to go kayaking in the mangroves, friend mentioned bioluminescent lagoons, explore Old San Juan &amp; the fort, hang out on the beach, a modicum of shopping, snorkeling.<br>
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We are thinking about renting a car, I found one rental that is $128 for the whole week with unlimited miles. Even if we don't use it every day, that seems cheaper than trying to get around with a taxi/bus/train combo? What is driving like there?<br>
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I would also love general travel tips for Puerto Rico. The websites have only been a little helpful. Is it better to book things ahead of time, or just have an idea of what we want to and figure it out day by day?<br>
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What other things are a can't-miss?<br>
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Food: when I was in Paris, my mom &amp; I would make breakfast at home, pack lunch, and (mostly) eat out for dinner. This saved a lot on our food budget. Is it logical to do this in Puerto Rico? Or are there really cheap places to get local fare? We are staying close to a cafe, will they have breakfast (generally) at cafe's like they do in the States?<br>
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I'm sure I have a million questions I don't even know yet, so any thoughts you have about my trip will be <strong>very much</strong> appreciated!<br>
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I have seen <a href="http://ask.metafilter.com/271230/Planning-a-trip-to-Puerto-Rico">this question</a>, which was helpful.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.276011Mon, 16 Feb 2015 10:04:42 -0800DoubleLuneWhat finger foods would be good for a hot sauce tasting party?http://ask.metafilter.com/275765/What%2Dfinger%2Dfoods%2Dwould%2Dbe%2Dgood%2Dfor%2Da%2Dhot%2Dsauce%2Dtasting%2Dparty
What finger foods would be good for a hot sauce tasting party? Hi! I am hosting a tasting of different Caribbean hot sauces, and need ideas of what to put them on. The tricky part is that these snacks have to be made in advance, transported &amp; served cold, or room-temp. Any creative ideas are much appreciated! They can be either dipped into the sauces, or the sauces can be already in or on them. The sauces will include a very hot scotch bonnet sauce, a curry hot sauce &amp; a sweet/hot fruit based sauce. A Caribbean, down island theme is the overall "flavor" of the event. Thank you for your responses!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2015:site.275765Tue, 10 Feb 2015 16:45:24 -0800Bohemian SailorTrying to track down some specific Caribbean musichttp://ask.metafilter.com/273475/Trying%2Dto%2Dtrack%2Ddown%2Dsome%2Dspecific%2DCaribbean%2Dmusic
Several years ago (it might have been around 15 years ago) I was on vacation in the Caribbean, I believe in Anguilla although I might be getting confused, and I heard two songs during a cab ride. The choruses of these songs have been stuck in my head since then. I believe the style of music was Calypso, but I'm not an expert on Caribbean music. I'm trying to track down the artist who performed the songs and/or the songs themselves. I'm having no luck online, so I'm hoping someone here can help… These were politically minded songs focused around conspiracy theories and the two songs had the following choruses…<br>
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"AIDS was created by a mad scientist / He invented the AIDS virus to start a business"<br>
and<br>
"OJ Simpson was a victim of the system"<br>
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Any help would be much appreciated.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.273475Wed, 24 Dec 2014 12:17:12 -0800kcalderHelp us vacation on an island (Saint Martin vs Grand Cayman)?http://ask.metafilter.com/271758/Help%2Dus%2Dvacation%2Don%2Dan%2Disland%2DSaint%2DMartin%2Dvs%2DGrand%2DCayman
We're trying to plan a 1-week vacation over Christmas for the three of us (wife, college-age daughter, myself). Some friends recommended Saint Martin, other friends recommended Grand Cayman, but neither has been to both to compare between the two of them. We're mostly looking for relaxation, but with some activity when we get bored. We like to snorkel, we like to eat interesting food (but the wife has some allergies that require no gluten or dairy), we like visiting interesting things. We tend to prefer not too touristy area's. For example, we've been to Puerto Rico, Aruba, and Honolulu. We liked PR a whole lot, Aruba quite a bit, and the best day in Hawaii was when we left Honolulu and drove around the island.<br>
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Based on what I've read Saint Martin seems a better bet, but the Tripadvisor forum seems to suggest that crime is a real problem there (though, like all forums, I suspect it highlights the bad). <br>
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Thoughts and suggestions?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.271758Wed, 19 Nov 2014 07:01:09 -0800RunesDelicious Caribbean-style sandwiches in DC?http://ask.metafilter.com/267819/Delicious%2DCaribbean%2Dstyle%2Dsandwiches%2Din%2DDC
A couple weeks ago I went to <a href="http://www.paseoseattle.com/index.php/menu.html">Paseo</a> and had a life-changing sandwich experience. Now that I'm back in the other Washington (DC), I'd like to find the next best thing. Where are these types of sandwiches available in the District? (Must be transit-accessible.) The two sandwiches I tried and adored were the Grilled Pork and the Havana Seared Scallops. What I'm looking for is the same set of ingredients: crusty bread + garlicky aioli + spicy meat + caramelized onions + greens. <br>
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I'm <u>not</u> looking for either a cubano sandwich or a recipe to make the Paseo sandwiches - I already know where to get both of those.<br>
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One thing I did find by Googling that looked semi-promising is <a href="http://www.seamless.com/food-delivery/sophie-cuban-cuisine-dc-washington.29549.r">Sophie's Cuban Cuisine</a>. Has anyone here been?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.267819Wed, 03 Sep 2014 09:25:37 -0800capricornWhere to stay in Sint Maarten/St. Martin?http://ask.metafilter.com/265059/Where%2Dto%2Dstay%2Din%2DSint%2DMaarten%2DSt%2DMartin
I am planning to spend 9 days in Sint Maarten/St. Martin in October. I've read the guidebooks and consulted Google, but I still don't know where to stay. Criteria inside. I'm 26, female, and will most likely be traveling alone. I have a very high stress job and I just want to chill out and not think about work while I'm away. Priorities include proximity to good, local restaurants and bars and nice, uncrowded beaches. I speak/read passable French but no Dutch.<br>
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I do not anticipate renting a car. I am REALLY not keen on the touristy mega-resort or twentysomething party scenes, but am open to staying at a resort if it's the best option. My budget is not unlimited and I would like to keep hotel costs under $250 or so per night. <br>
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Also, information about anything I must do, see, or eat while there is welcome.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.265059Sun, 13 Jul 2014 12:30:29 -0800easy, lucky, freeSnorkeling - Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, or St. Kitts?http://ask.metafilter.com/262674/Snorkeling%2DAntigua%2DSt%2DLucia%2DGrenada%2DBarbados%2Dor%2DSt%2DKitts
I'll be cruising the southern Caribbean, stopping at Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados, and St. Kitts and would like to do some good snorkeling at one of those islands. I don't mind having to charter a boat or do some kayaking in calm waters to get there, but I want to see some serious fish and coral. Previously, I had a great time at Waterlemon Cay in St. John, USVI and Captain Cook Cove in Kona, Hawai'i, but was not at all impressed by Trunk Bay, also in St. John, or Nassau, Bahamas. Where is good? We will be good stewards of the coral, by the way.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.262674Wed, 28 May 2014 20:56:25 -0800wnissenNon-Resorty Vacation Spots in the Caribbean &amp; Central Americahttp://ask.metafilter.com/261013/Non%2DResorty%2DVacation%2DSpots%2Din%2Dthe%2DCaribbean%2Dand%2DCentral%2DAmerica
I would like to hear your recommendations for travel locations in the Caribbean and Central America which are focused more on culture and history than lying on a beach. I love wandering around cities and small towns in Europe, but it costs a lot of money and time to get there. I'm wondering where I can find a similar experience closer to home (which is the East Coast of the US).<br>
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My husband is zero percent interested in the more traditional tropical vacation (beach/snorkeling/fruity cocktails/etc) and it's not really my first choice, either. I would like to have personal reports with which to convince him, for example, that Puerto Rico would be a good place to spend a week - Old Town San Juan looks lovely, but I'm not sure how much there is to explore outside of that area. Someone has told me Nicaragua looks interesting but she has not actually been yet there herself. So, are there places we can go to learn about the plantation history of the Caribbean? See Spanish explorer stuff? Interesting historical architecture? Other? <br>
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Thanks for your help.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.261013Mon, 28 Apr 2014 07:37:59 -0800something somethingInclusive resorts in Caribbean/Mexicohttp://ask.metafilter.com/257460/Inclusive%2Dresorts%2Din%2DCaribbean%2DMexico
Looking for recommendations for all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean or Mexico. My wife and I are normally very low-key, non-touristy type travelers. But the combination of work stress and a long, cold winter has us looking for something all-inclusive and fancy, somewhere warm.<br>
<br>
Requirements:<br>
<ul><br>
<li>Caribbean or Mexico</li><br>
<li>All-inclusive</li><br>
<li>"Classy" is a weird word, but non-cheesy. Not Sandals, etc.</li><br>
<li>Good food</li><br>
<li>Beachfront or darned close</li><br>
<li>Quiet. Doesn't have to be adults only, but not like Cancún</li><br>
</ul><br>
<br>
Price is no particular object, although something non-insane would be nice. Nature stuff to do around, like hiking, is a plus, but not required.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.257460Thu, 20 Feb 2014 09:10:08 -0800ChrysostomUsing a passport card in the Caribbean http://ask.metafilter.com/256850/Using%2Da%2Dpassport%2Dcard%2Din%2Dthe%2DCaribbean
This spring, I'll be flying from the continental US to St. Thomas with my small kids to join my parents on their sailboat. I know that we don't need passports to fly into the US Virgin Islands, but that we would need them if we wanted to sail to the British Virgin Islands. My kids don't have passports yet. Because of the expense of a full passport, I am considering getting them passport cards instead. The government website suggests that this is one potential use case of the passport card, but I haven't read accounts of people doing it. I asked my parents what their fellow cruisers know, but didn't get much info. Have you done this? How was it?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.256850Sun, 09 Feb 2014 16:23:18 -0800linettaskyVacations are stressful. Help us find a non-cheesy tropical hotel?http://ask.metafilter.com/255682/Vacations%2Dare%2Dstressful%2DHelp%2Dus%2Dfind%2Da%2Dnon%2Dcheesy%2Dtropical%2Dhotel
I need a recommendation for a 4-7 day tropical vacation sometime this spring. I'm thinking hedonistic amounts of lounging, drinking, napping, reading, and eating in the sun for me and my boyfriend. There are way too many options and I will keep putting it off until I can slim down the choices. I <em>especially</em> could use specific recommendations for hotels, as I find it basically impossible to tell whether food is good anywhere. <strong>Need<br>
</strong>- Good food. I just can't do another all-inclusive with flavorless "American fare" and a "special sushi night." It's depressing. <br>
- Sunshine!<br>
- Minimal driving. If this means that there are walkable things, or reasonably-priced drivers, or public transit - all work. I just don't want to do a rental because it stresses me out<br>
- Less than a day of travel from NYC. Direct flight is better than not!<br>
<br>
<strong>Want<br>
</strong>- Beach! This is almost an absolute need but I can be swayed if there is other swimming/semi-private outdoor lounging<br>
- Not a spring breakers destination nor too old-folks style. I am an old soul but I wouldn't mind meeting some people my age (30ish) at the bar<br>
- Minimal people bothering me trying to sell stuff<br>
- Champagne style at a microbrew budget. I'm willing to spend a few extra bucks if I'll really enjoy the amenities. I hate the idea of paying for a staff "talent show" and morning zumba or whatever.<br>
- I am not athletic but would be happy to do some chill hiking, biking, kayaking<br>
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I've looked at various places in St Martin, Aruba, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Hawaii, etc... I just can't commit. I've been to DR and Jamaica and preferred the beaches and food in Jamaica. <br>
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Outside of the Caribbean we've enjoyed traveling to Barcelona (fun drinking culture, great weather and architecture) and New Orleans (foooooood!) especially.<br>
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We can spend a few thousand each this time. I've spent a ton of time looking at Lonely Planet and Trip Advisor and my head is spinning.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2014:site.255682Mon, 20 Jan 2014 18:06:05 -0800thirdletterCan you identify this vacation destination (c 1950)?http://ask.metafilter.com/251288/Can%2Dyou%2Didentify%2Dthis%2Dvacation%2Ddestination%2Dc%2D1950
Back in the '50s my Mom took a trip with her friends to this tropical island somewhere in the Caribbean. Can anyone help me identify where these pictures were taken? Link to the gallery <a href="http://tinyurl.com/otkn68m">here</a>.tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.251288Sun, 03 Nov 2013 12:00:29 -0800alballWhat's your favourite travel website for booking a vacation package?http://ask.metafilter.com/250326/Whats%2Dyour%2Dfavourite%2Dtravel%2Dwebsite%2Dfor%2Dbooking%2Da%2Dvacation%2Dpackage
We want to go somewhere sunny this winter. There are a bewildering number of travel websites hocking flight+hotel deals. Did you have a good experience with any of them? What I'm hoping to find is a place where I can see the best deals leaving from our origin point (Toronto) and going to <em>somewhere in the Caribbean</em>, and then choose based on the deal. We don't have much money and we're not picky about which country to go to, as long as there's sun, a nice beach, and it's not miserably overrun by other tourists. <br>
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Other considerations:<br>
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- Booking in advance would be ideal, but if there's some last minute deals website, that'd be good to know too.<br>
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- I would imagine Christmas is way more expensive than early January. Is that true?<br>
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Thanks!tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.250326Wed, 16 Oct 2013 09:55:38 -0800BeardmanWhat is Caribbean food and how do I cook it?http://ask.metafilter.com/249756/What%2Dis%2DCaribbean%2Dfood%2Dand%2Dhow%2Ddo%2DI%2Dcook%2Dit
I recently moved to a neighborhood that is predominantly West Indian, and I see all sorts of new-to-me ingredients in my local grocery stores that I'd love to learn how to use. But I don't know the first thing about West Indian/Caribbean cuisine, so I'm not sure I trust myself to just pick out a cookbook and start. Can you recommend any resources like websites or cookbooks, or specific recipes, that will allow me to start investigating all these mysterious roots and jars of red-dyed lard and interesting spices?tag:ask.metafilter.com,2013:site.249756Sun, 06 Oct 2013 18:36:26 -0800showbiz_liz